Though the exhaustive archival work that accompanied Genesis’ 2007 touring did not extend to the group’s latest (and likely last) outing in 2021 and 2022, this year brings a new box set for fans of the prog-turned-pop/rock icons: a collection of their live material as recorded by the BBC.
“BBC Broadcasts”, curated by founding keyboardist Tony Banks and longtime engineer Nick Davis, offers a trove of concert audio from all the major eras of Genesis from 1970 to 1998. The earliest material, taken from a 1970 appearance on BBC Radio 2 program “Night Ride“, features one of the band’s earliest line-ups: singer Peter Gabriel, keyboardist Banks, bassist Mike Rutherford, guitarist Anthony Phillips and drummer John Mayhew. Just over a year later, by the time the group cut appearances on “Sounds of the Seventies” and a session for John Peel, Philips and Mayhew were replaced by Steve Hackett and Phil Collins.
‘BBC Broadcasts’ contains favourites such as ‘Home By The Sea’, ‘Mama’, ‘Duchess’, ‘Carpet Crawlers’, ‘No Son Of Mine’ ‘Turn It On Again’ and many more. With only a handful of these tracks previously officially available, Genesis ‘BBC Broadcasts’ acts as both a collector’s cornucopia and an alternative “greatest hits”. Stretching from the very beginnings of the band’s career via appearances on ‘Night Ride’ and John Peel,
By the time the set’s second disc picks up with a 1978 appearance at the Knebworth Festival, Gabriel and Hackett had left the band, with Collins (now a singer and drummer), Banks and Rutherford continuing with touring members Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson; you’ll hear that line-up through much of “BBC Broadcasts”, including a 1980 performance at London’s Lyceum Theatre and 1987’s blockbuster stand at Wembley Stadium. The group’s 1992 Knebworth appearance and two 1998 tracks with vocalist Ray Wilson and touring members Anthony Drennen (guitar/bass) and Nir Z (drums) round out the set.
A vast majority of the material has never been released before; a few Gabriel-era tracks were released on a 1998 box set, one Lyceum track made it to the group’s “Three Sides Live” in 1982 and the Wembley set was issued on video and DVD over the years.
A total of 24 of the 53 tracks on the 5CD set will be issued as a triple-vinyl set, with all songs making their debut on the format. Author Michael Hann has penned liner notes for this box, included in an accompanying 40-page book.
Both formats will be available March 3rd.
The Fat Angel Sings 